The phrase "were obliged" is pronounced [wɜːr əˈblaɪdʒd]. The /w/ sound is followed by the "er" sound represented by the symbol /ɜːr/. This sound is made by rounding your lips and raising the back of your tongue. The "obliged" part of the phrase is pronounced with a long "i" sound /aɪ/ and the /dʒ/ sound is represented by "g" and "e" together. This phrase means "were required to do something" and is commonly used in formal writing or speech.
"Was obliged" or "were obliged" is a phrase that denotes a sense of duty, requirement, or responsibility to perform a particular action or task. The term "obliged" is derived from the verb "oblige," which means to bind someone legally or morally, or to compel someone to act in a particular way.
When used in the past tense, "were obliged" suggests that individuals or a group of people felt compelled or morally bound to fulfill an obligation or to take a specific course of action. This obligation may arise due to a variety of reasons, such as a commitment, agreement, responsibility, or social expectation.
The phrase "were obliged" conveys the notion that the individuals or group in question were not acting out of choice, but rather out of necessity or requirement. It implies that they did not have the option to decline or refuse to carry out the designated task or fulfill the obligation because doing so would have been considered improper, disrespectful, or a violation of their responsibilities.
For example, if someone says, "We were obliged to attend the meeting," it means that they had a duty or responsibility to be present at the meeting, possibly due to their position, role, or the expectations of others. In this context, being obliged implies a sense of obligation that cannot be easily avoided or disregarded.
The term "were obliged" is not a word in itself, but a combination of two words: "were" and "obliged".
The word "were" is the plural form of the past tense of the verb "to be" in the English language. It is derived from the Old English word "wǣron" and can be traced back to Proto-Germanic origins.
The word "obliged" comes from the Latin word "obligare", which means "to bind or constrain". It entered the English language around the 16th century, borrowed from the French word "obliger".
When combined, "were obliged" implies that someone was bound or constrained to do something in the past.